Typewriter



y 30 1 0. J. E. SWEENEY 2,209,616

TYPEWRITER Filed April 25, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 PWI'I if y 30,1940- J. SWEENEY 2,209,616

TYPEGWRITER Filed April 25, 1938 '7 Sheets- Sheet? July 30, 1940. .1. SWEENEQY TYPEWRITER Filed April 25, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3,

7 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 30, 1940. .1. SWEENEY TYPEWRITER Filed April 25, 19 8 y 0, 1940. J. L. SWEENEY 2,209,616

TYPEWRITER Filed April 25, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 July so, 1940.

J. L. SWEENEY TYPEWRITER Filed April 25, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 A I z l l l I l I l I I I I I I l l I I I I I l I I SlirS y o 1940. J. E. SWEENEY 2,209,616

TYPEWRITER Filed April 25, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 "ilk Ill Patented July so,

UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs 17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriters and more particularly to a typewriter of such character that speed and volume of work are of secondary importance but in which cost and educational value are of prime importance.

In accordance with my invention, all the functions of the usual key levers of a normal typewriter are reduced. The entire keyboard is on a single plate on which the normal key buttons are fastened in their normally correct position, so that a pressure on any button will type on the paper whatever type has been previously selected.

In my invention the particular type character selected is controlled by hand and the control mechanism includes a relatively long cylinder or roll extending across the machine inside the casing and position rearwardly of a long narrow slot or window. Such cylinder is operatively connected to a type wheel so that movement of the cylinder is in exact relation to movement of the type wheel.

In one form of the machine, I place a series of arrows in a helical or spiral form around the cylinder, so that any one moment there is only one full arrow displayed through the window or slot. Positioned adjacent the slot at the exterior of the casing, is a set of characters corresponding to the characters on the type wheel and arranged in a definite sequence, so that the arrows on the cylinder may be employed to select a particular type character which will be impressed against the paper when the keyboard is depressed.

Instead of arranging the arrows on the cylinder and the characters on a plate adjacent the slot, I may reverse this arrangement and place the characters on the cylinder and the arrows on the plate.

I also propose to use a shiftable arrow 'in place of the spiral series of arrows or characters and to actuate the arrow by a spiral groove arranged about the cylinder.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and'more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved typewriter. I

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the platen assembly.

Fig. 5 is anexploded perspective view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view partly bioken away of the escapement device.

Fig. 7 is a-side elevation of the same partly broken away.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rear portion of the typewriter showing a part of the rocking platform which supports the slidable platen assembly.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the type wheel showing in horizontal section a portion of the means employed to guide the wheel vertically and to lock it against rotation while printing.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line Ill-l of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a detail taken 0 the line HH of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the periphery of the type wheel and showing upper and lower case characters.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a spring formlngpart of the type wheel locking means.

Fig. 15 is a' detail showing the gearing for actuating the character or indicator wheel from the hand-operated shaft, the section of this figure being taken on line Il5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail partly broken away of the stationary indicating plate or strip and the rotatable indicating wheel that is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

Fig. 17 is a similar view of another modification of the structure illustrated in Fig. 16, in which the stationary plate is provided with a series of pointers and the index wheel is provided with spirally arranged characters.

Fig. 18 is also a view like Fig. 16 but showing a further modification in which the stationary character plate cooperates with a laterally shiftable pointer actuated by a spiral groove in the index roll.

Fig. 19is a plan view of a detail of the modification illustrated in Fig. 18.

Fig, 20 is a sectional view of this detail taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the structure shown-in Fig. 19.

Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 6 of another modification of the escapement mechanism.

Fig. 23 is a top plan view partly broken away of a modification of the inking mechanism for the type wheel.

Fig. 24 is a vertical sectional view of the same, partly in elevation. and taken on line 2424 of Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a top plan view partly in substantially horizontal section of another modification of the escapement mechanism, the section being taken on the line 2525 of Fig. 2'7.

Fig, 26 is a substantially vertical sectional view of this mechanism, partly in elevation.

Fig.2? is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 21-21 of Fig. 25.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the internal frame or chassis of the machine, is

preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises side walls 25, a front wall 26, a rear-wall 21 and a bridge 28.

A dummy keyboard 29, which is movable up and down and provided with false keys 30 having characters arranged identically the same way as a standard keyboard, is mounted on the front end portions M of levers 32 which have their medial portions pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin 33 that extends through a hollow sheet hnetal block 34 that forms a part of the chassis.

The arms of each lever diverge upwardly from casing 14, the main casing is provided with a narthe pivot 33 and the rear arms 35 of such levers engage the platen assembly at the points 36 so that such assembly is shifted toward the type wheel 3'! each time the dummy keyboard is depressed.

The type wheel has on its periphery a series of lower case characters 38 and a series of upper case characters 39, and as best illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the type wheel is mounted on the upper end of a vertical rotatable shaft 40 which extends downwardly through a disc 4|, sleeves 42, a helical gear 43 and the top 44 of the mounting block 34. The shaft is keyed to the parts 42 and 43 but may be raised and lowered relatively to these parts to accommodate the use of either the upper case characters 38 or lower case char acters 39.

The type wheel has a pair of depending pins 45 engaging notches 46 in the disc 4|, the latter being fixed to the sleeve 42. Due to this construction, it is obvious that the type wheel can rotate with the disc and be raised or lowered for the purpose heretofore mentioned.

During the printing operation, it is essential to properly center the, character to be used in the printing, and for this purpose the type wheel has a bottom gear ratchet disc 41 fixed thereto, and the teeth 48 of this disc cooperate with a pawl 49.

The latter may consist of a pin, having its lower end portion resting on and extending through the top of the block 34 andits upper end extending into an annular groove 50 in the underside of the type wheel. The pawl is moved toward and away from the shaft 40, and in order to move it into 'locking position, I may employ a substantially inverted U-shaped wire spring member 5| (Fig. 14)

having a head portion 52 to engage the pawl, and

leg portions 53 removably anchored in a sleeve 54 (Fig. 3) carried by the arms 35 of the levers 32. With this construction, each time the keyboard is depressed to cause the platen 55 to move against the type wheel, the pawl-actuating member 5| will move the upper end of the pawl 49into engagement with a notch of the ratchet wheel 41 with the result that the type -wheel will be temporarily locked during the printing operation.

a The type of the wheel 31 may be inked by any suitable means. For example (Fig, 1), an

' wheel, the helical gear 43 meshes with a similar gear 62 that is fixed to a horizontal shaft 63 journalled in brackets 64 forming part of the chassis. The ends of the shaft 63 are provided with external handles or knobs 65 to permit the operator to effect turning of the type wheel. The shaft 63 not only effects turning of the type wheel but is employed to rotate an index cylinder or roll 66.

This is accomplished, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15,

by means of a gear 61 fixed to shaft 63, and a gear 68 fixed to the shaft 69 of the roll; the latter shaft being journalled in brackets Ill forming part of the chassis.

An auxiliary casing 14 is mounted on the main casing to facilitate access to the inking ribbon 56. Between the keyboard 29 and the auxiliary row horizontal slot or window 15 of substantially the same length as the keyboard to permit the index roll 66 to be seen from the front of the machine. In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 16, the roll is provided with a spirally arranged series of arrows l6 cor responding in number not only to the characters on the false keys 30 but also to the characters 11 on a stationary index plate I8 secured along one edge of the slot 15. As the characters 11 are arranged in identically the same relation as the characters on a standard keyboard, it will be appreciated that if the operator by turning one of the knobs 65 causes one of the arrows I6 to point to a particular character 11 of the index plate, that character will be printed when the dummy keyboard is depressed. Obviously this will facilitate the teaching of students of typewriting, so that they cannot only readily .locate particular characters in the same places where they will be found on a standard keyboard, but may then exert pressure on the desired corresponding false key. and this will enable students to rapidly learn the touch system.

Instead of placing the characters on the stationary plate and the arrows on the index roll, such arrangement may be reversed as shown in Fig. 1'7, in which the characters 19 are spirally arranged on the -roll 88, and a corresponding number of arrows 8| are positioned on the stationary plate 82.

Still another arrangement is shown in Fig. 18. In this embodiment, the characters 83 are positioned on the stationary plate 84, and the slot 85 is bound at one edge by a thin stationary plate 86 functioning as a guide for a slidable arrow 81 having a pin 88 extending into a spiral groove 89 end of the spiral groove, it cannot be moved further by turning theroll in the same direction, and therefore I provide means to prevent the roll 90 from turning too far in either'direction. For example, as shown in Figs. 19 to 21 inclusive, the hand-operated shaft III is provided with a gear 92 which by means of an idle gear 93 actuates a gear 94 fixed to the grooved roll 90; and a disc 95, fixed to the shaft 9| has a finger 96 that is adapted to engage an abutment 91 mounted on one of the brackets 98 in which the shafts are fulcrumed. Obviously when the shaft 9| is turned in either direction the finger 96 will be brought into contact with the abutment 91, and this will stop further turning of the shaft in that direction.

For the purpose of moving the type wheel upwardly to print upper case characters, the lower end of the type wheel shaft 40 is arranged immediately above a horizontal plate portion 99 arranged at the rear junction of shift levers I00. These levers may be formed integral with one another and diverge forwardly from the plate portion 99. The medial portions of the levers are pivotally mounted on a horizontal pin IOI supported by brackets I02 forming part of the chassis. The forward ends of the levers are provided with shift keys I03 which are arranged in the opening 13 of the main casing.

Referring now to the platen and escapement mechanism, a substantially inverted U-shaped member I04 (Figs. 3 and 8) consists of a horizontal track I05 having legs I06 at its ends. Such legs are pivotally connected at I01 by bolts or the like to the sides of the chassis. Wire springs I08 have medial coil portions arranged about the bolts, and one end of each spring is hooked through one of the side walls of the chassis as shown at I09. The opposite end of each spring bears against a lug I I forming part of the leg I05. These springs urge the track I rearwardly, and as such force is exerted against the rear arms 35 of the keyboard levers 3|, obviously such springs normally maintain the keyboard in raised position. v

The carriage of the platen is mounted on and slides along the track I 05, and this carriage preferably consists of a base plate III (Fig. 5) having' depending flanges H2 and H3 to embrace the front and rear edges of the track I05; .the

flange II3 being provided with rack teeth II4.

As best illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, the track I05 is provided with a depending lug I I5 engage able with and arranged between upstanding lugs I I8 and I I1 provided on the rockable escapement pawl H8. The latteris pivotally mounted at II9 on a platform I20 formed at the top of an inverted U-shaped member having legs I2I. Such legs, as best shown in Fig. 3, are rockably mounted at their lower ends on a pin I22 that extends through the mounting block I34.

The pawl II8 has teeth I23 and I24 which cooperate with the rack teeth H4, and it will be understood that if the inverted U-shaped member I20, I2I, is moved in a clockwise direction, the pawl II8 will be shifted by the finger II5 to a position to feed the carriage III one step toward the left, then if the U-shaped member is returned to normal position, the teeth I23, I24, will completethe movement of the carriage. v

It will also be understood that if the inverted U-shaped member I20, I2I, remains stationary,

while the track I05 is shifted transversely, the.

finger II5 will cooperate with the fingers I I6 and H1 to shift the carriage one step toward the left.

Inorderto move the inverted U-shaped memher in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3), the legs I2I have forwardly extending detents I25 which are engaged by the rear ends of shift levers I 26.

Instead of employing the escapement mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7, I may use the one shown in Fig. 22. In this case the rockable member II8a which is pivotally mounted on the shiftable platform I20a may carry a pivoted pawl I30 which has only a single tooth to cooperate with the rack 40. A coil spring. I3I may be employed to urge the pawl toward the rack. Here also. the finger II 5a which depends from the carriage track cooperates with upstanding lugs 1 Mia and I I1a mounted on the rockable member I I8a. I prefer to use the form shown in Fig. 22, for in that case a single spring may be employed to hold the inverted U-shaped member I20a as well as the pawl I 30 in normal position.

To facilitate inexpensive manufacture, the platen assembly, as shown in 'Fig. 5, may include end cheek'plates I35 provided at the ends of the carriage base. III. Each end plate is provided with notches I35 and I31, and a slot I38. The shaft I39 of the platen extends through the notches I31. I

A paper guide member I40 has end portions I4 I, which rest on the base III and have notches I42 to accommodate the platen shaft.

The paper rolls I43 which serve to clamp the paper to the platen, are mounted on rods I44 and I45, and the member or apron I is apertured as shown at I45 to accommodate the rolls of the rod I45.

Plates I41 are adapted to abut against the outer surfaces of the cheek plates I35 of the carriage, and each plate I41 has slots I48, I49 and a notch I50. In assembling the parts the platen shaft I39 is dropped into the notches I42 of the cheek plates of the apron I40. Then the shaft is dropped into notches I 31 of the cheek plates I35 of the carriage. Then the plates I41 may be applied by causing the end portions of the shaft I39 to enter the notches I50. Afterwards the ends of the rod I44 may be inserted through I 1 I may be employed at each end of the platen to secure the parts in position. This may be accomplished by hooking the end I56 into the groove I53 of the rod I44 and subsequently hooking the end portion .I51'of the spring into the groove I54 of the rod I45. I

For line spacing, a sheet metal gear I58 may bearranged on one end of the platen shaft, and it will be noted that this gear has opposite notches I59 at its center -to accommodate abutment fingersl60 projecting from opposite sides of the shaft I39. The teeth of this gear cooperate with teeth I6I of the latch I52, which is pivotally mounted on the end of the rod I45. When the latch is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the gear I58 is locked against rotation, but if the latch is swung outwardly, by manipulation of its handle I62, the gear is free to rotate with the platen shaft. A resilient pawl member I63 is secured to the knob I64 (Fig. 'so as to always turn with the shaft, and the pawl cooperates with the teeth of the gear I58. If the gear is locked against rotation by the latch I52, the pawl will ratchet or slide over the teeth of the gear, but when the latch is released, the pawl I63 will cause the gear to rotate with the shaft so that the platen may be turned to any desired degree for shifting the paper. The knobs I64 are secured to the ends of the platen shaft by means of screws I65, and in order to cause the shaft to turn with the knobs, each knob (Fig. 5a) has notches IBM to receive the abutment fingers I60 of the shaft.

In order to apprise the operator when the end of a line has been reached, the platen carriage (Fig. 1) is provided with a projecting arm I15 adapted to contact with an upwardly projecting arm I16 of a lever that extends up through a hole I11 in the bridge 36 of the chassis. The lower end of the lever (Fig. 2) forms a hammer I18 arranged to tap a bell I19 supported by a bracket I80 that depends from the bridge.

Instead of employing the inking mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 3, I may use the structure illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24. In this form of the invention the ratchet wheel 41a. at the bottom of the type wheel 3111 forms a support for a substantially U-shaped plate NH. The latter is preferably made of sheet metal and is shaped at its inner edge portion to provide pairs of upper and lower fingers I82, I83. There may be three pairs of these fingers and each pair acts to loosely grip or embrace the ratchet wheel so that the latter may readily turn while supporting the plate. The latter carries the spools I84 and I85, which guide the inking ribbon I86.

- Any suitable means may be employed to center the plate I8I for example, substantially bow shape wire springs I81 may have their forward ends anchored in the casing of the machine as illustrated at I88, and their rear ends extendin into small apertures I89 in the plate. These springs, of course, allow the inking mechanism to rise and descend with the type wheel to take care of upper and lower case characters.

In Figs. 25 to 27 inclusive, I have, illustrated another. embodiment of the escapement mechanism shown in Fig. 22.

In Figs. 25 to 27 inclusive, the platen carriage plate II4b slides along the track I05b of the inverted U-shaped: member I041). A lever I90 is pivotally suspended from the track by a pivot pin I9I, and a pawl I92 is pivotally connected to and supported by the lever as shown at I 93. The pawl has a tooth I94 adapted to engage the teeth of the rack I I).

A U-shaped wire spring I95 is carried by the lever and pawl and has its ends connected to end portions of the lever and pawl for thepurpose of normally urging the free end portion of the pawl away from the free end portion of the lever.

A lug I96 is fixed to and depends from the lever, and it cooperates with an abutment I91 that is fixed to a platform I20b arranged at the top of the inverted U-shaped rocking member I2 I b, corresponding to the part I2I in Figs. 3 and '1.

A substantially V-shaped spring I08b has one of its ends secured to the bridge 24b, and its other end secured to the free end portion of the lever I90, and it tends to normally urge the lever in a clockwise direction about the pivot I9I and to hold the parts I04b and I2Ib in normal position, i. e., rearwardly of the platen.

A stationary pawl I98 is positioned on the platform and functions normally to engage the teeth of the rack member II4b to hold the carriage against movement.

In actuating this form of escapement, whenever the member I041) is moved forwardly during the printing operation to 'bring the platen into engagement with the type wheel, the platform I20b will remain stationary so that the abutment I91 will prevent the lug I96 from moving forwardly. Consequently the lever I90 will move in a clockwise direction and the pivot pin I93 will move in the same direction. As the spring I95 is at the same time urging the pawl I94 toward the rack, it will be understood that the pawl will thus be brought into position to engage a succeeding tooth of the rack and at the same time the rack will move out of engagement with the stationary pawl I98. Therefore, when the carriage and platen are again moved rearwardly away from the type wheel, the pawl I94 will engage said succeeding tooth of the rack and will function to advance the carriage one step, where it will be locked in position by the stationary pawl I98.

If spacing is to be accomplished without printing, for example, by depressing the spacing bar I21 (Fig. 3), this will cause the platform member I2Ib to travel rearwardly in a direction away from the type wheel, and consequently the abutment I91 will push rearwardly against the lug I96 so as to swing the lever I90 in a counterclockwise direction and cause the pivot pin I93 to travel in the same direction, with the result that the pawl I94 will be brought into position to engage a succeed ng tooth. Then when the member I 2| again moves forwardly to normal position, the pawl I94 will advance the carriage one step and the stationary pawl I96 will act to lock the carriage against movement.

In operation, the operator may thread the paper into the platen assembly in the usual way, and adiust the paper to the desired position by manipulating one or both of the knobs I64. He can then select the desired type character to be printed by turning one or both of the knobs 65. For example, if he desires to print the letter f, he will turn the knob. 65 until the proper arrow 16 registers with the f on the character plate 18. When the operator turns the knob 65 to select such character, the gearing 62, 43, causes turning of the type wheel 31 to bring the proper type character 39 into printing position. Then by depressing the keyboard 29, the rear arms 35 of the keyboard levers will cause shifting of the platen assembly forwardly so that the paper will be con- -tactecl with the portion of the inking ribbon which is between the platen and the selected type. Upon releaseof the keyboard, the springs I08 will act on the inverted U-shaped member I04 and return the platen assembly and the keyboard to normal position. Due to the forward and backward movement of the platen assembly, the escapement mechanism illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 will act to' move the platen carriage one step toward the left to bring the paper into proper position to be impressed by the next type character selected.

After writing a word, for example, when it is desired to space, the operator depresses the space bar I21. This causes the rear ends of the levers I26 to rise and move the inverted U-shaped member, I21, in a clockwise direction and then the springs I28 come into play to restore the parts to proper position. Of course, such movement causes the escapement mechanism to shift the platen assembly toward the left, even though the keyboard is not depressed.

When it is necessary to use an upper case character, the operator after selecting the desired type character, presses down on either one ofthe shift keys l03 to raise the type wheel, before pressing downwardly on the keyboard to move the platen into contact with the inking ribbon.

Further manipulation of the machine will be readily understood by anyone familiar with typewriters.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing, that I have provided a machine which may be inexpassively manufactured, and the parts of which may be readily assembled, as the construction is such that the major portion of the mechanism may be made of stamped sheet metal or the like,

and the casing may be made of such metal or may be cast of metal or molded from suitable plastics. 1

Furthermore, I have provided a machine which will be attractive to children and/or students, not only on account of its close resemblance to conventional present day typewriters, but because the characters are so arranged as to facilitate selection of characters to be typed as well as placement ranged series of indicating characters on the periphery thereof and corresponding in number to the type'characters on the type-carrying member, an elongated window arranged parallel to and in close proximity to'the cylinder for displaying the type characters of the cylinder when the cylinder is rotated, a series of indicating characters 7 arranged adjacent to the window and stationary relative to the cylinder, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning such cylinder, the indicating characters of the cylinder corresponding in appearance to the type characters on the type-carrying ember.

2. A typewriter of the class described, comprising a movable type-carrying member, a casing, a rotatable indicating cylinder arranged-in the casing and having spiral indicating means positioned about its periphery, an elongated windown in the casing arranged parallel to and in close proximity to the cylinder for displaying said spiralindicating means, a series of stationary characters corresponding in appearance with the characters of the type-carrying member and arranged adjacent to said window in cooperative relation with said spiral indicating means, a rotatable handle arranged at one side of the casing, and means operatively connecting the handle tothe type-carrying member and cylinder for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

3. In a typewriter of the character having a rotatable type carrying member, a platen member, and a dummy keyboard means operatively connected with one of said members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard means, the improvement which comprises a stationary series of indicating characters extending along the typewriter adjacent to one of the longitudinal edges of the keyboard means and corresponding in appearance with the characters on the type-carrying member, an indicating cylinder rotatable about an axis spaced from the axis of the type-carrying member and having spiral indicating means cooperating with said series of indicating characters to indicate the type character selected to be used in printing, and manually operated means for simultaneously rotating the type-carrying member and said cylinder.

4. In a typewriter of the character having a movable type-carrying member, a platen member, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises indicating means including a series of indicating characters arranged adjacent to the rear edge of the dummy keyboard, an indicating cylinder having substantially spirally arranged indicating means, one of said indicating means corresponding in appearance with the type characters of the typecarrying member and cooperating with the other of said indicating means to indicate the type character selected to be printed, a handle, and means operatively connecting the handle to the type-carrying member and cylinder whereby movement of the handle will cause simultaneous shifting of the type-carrying member and turn-- ing of said cylinder.

5. A typewriter of the character described, comprising a movable type-carrying member, a

rotatable indicating cylinder provided with a spirally arranged series of indicating characters corresponding in appearance with the type characters of the type-carrying member, a series of;

relatively stationary indicating means extending lengthwise of the cylinder, positioned in close proximity to the cylinder, and cooperating with the characters on the latter to indicate a type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

6. In a typewriter of the character having a I movable type-carrying member, a platen member, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement .which comprises a housing into which the keyboard is depressible, a set of indicating characters arranged on the housing and corresponding in appearance with the type characters on the type-carrying member,

an elongated window in the housing, an indicator ally operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member, indicator and cylinder.

7. In a typewriting machine having a movable type-carrying member, a platen member, and a depressible dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a series of indicating characters forming part of the machine and corresponding in appearance 'with the type-characters on the typecarrying member, a rotatable indicating cylinder having spirally arranged means cooperating with said series of indicating characters to indicate a type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

8. In a typewriter of the character havinga casing, a movable type-carrying member,' a platen member, and'a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a rotatable indicating cylinder arranged in the casing between the platen and keyboard and provided with a spirally arranged series of indicating characters, an elongated window at the front of the casing arranged parallel with the cylinder and positioned in close proximity to the latter to allow the indicating characters on the cylinder to be seen through the window, a series of relatively stationary indicating characters mounted on the casing adjacent to and extending lengthwise of the window, one or the series of indicating characters corresponding in appearance to the type characters of the type-carrying member and cooperating with the other series of indicating characters to indicate a type character selected-to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

9. A typewriter-of the class described, comprising a movable type-carrying member, a rotatable indicating cylinder provided with a spirally arranged series of indicating characters on the, periphery thereof, and corresponding in number to the type characters on the type-carrying member, an elongated window arranged parallel to and in close proximity to the cylinder for displaying the indicating characters on the cylinder, a second series of relatively stationary indicating characters arranged adjacent to and lengthwise of the window, one series of said indicating characters corresponding in appearance to the type characters on the type-carrying memher, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

10. A typewriter of the class described, comprising a. movable type-carrying member, a rotatable indicating cylinder provided with a spirally arranged series 01' indicating characters on the periphery thereof and corresponding in number to the type characters on the type-carrying member, an elongated window arranged parallel to and in close proximity to the cylinder for displayingthe characters on the cylinder when the cylinder is rotated, a second series of relatively stationary indicating characters, corresponding in appearance to the type characters on the type-carrying member and arranged adjacent to the window, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning such cylinder. 11. In a typewriter machine having a movabl type-carrying member, a platen-member, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, a series of relatively stationary indicating characters corresponding in number and appearance with the type characters on the type-carrying member, a rotatable cylinder arranged adjacent to one of the longitudinal edges of the keyboard and including spirally arranged means positioned adjacent to and cooperating with said series of indicating characters to indicate a type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

12. In a typewriter machine having a movable type-carrying member, a platen member, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a housing, a rotatable cylinder arranged in the housing between the platen and keyboard for rotation about a stationary axis and having a spiral peripheral groove, a guide slot arranged in the housing parallel with the rear edge of the keyboard and in .close proximity to the cylinder, a pointer shiftable along said slot and extending into said groove, a relatively stationary set of indicating characters arranged on the housing adjacent to the guide slot and corresponding in appearance with the type characters of the type-carrying member, the pointer being movable along said slot to indicate the type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneously shifting the type-carrying member and for turning said cylinder.

13. In a typewriter of the character having a rotatable type wheel member provided with a series of peripherally arranged type characters, a platen roll member arranged rearwardly of said wheel member, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a casing, an elongated window in' the casing arra'ngedparallel to one of the longitudinal edges. of the keyboard and posit ioned between the platen and the keyboard, a rotatable cylinder arranged in the casing parallel to the window and having spiral indicating means arranged about its periphery and visible through said window, a relatively stationary set of indicating means arranged adjacent to said window, one of said indicating means corresponding in appearance with the type characters of the type wheel member and cooperating with the.

other of said indicating means to indicate the type character selected to be printed, and manually operated means for simultaneouslyro't'ating the type wheel member and said cylinder.

14. In a typewriter of the character having a rotatable type wheel member provided with a series of peripherally arranged type characters,

a platen roll member arranged rearw'ardly of said wheel member, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of the members for moving one member toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a casing, an elongated window in the casing arranged parallel to one of the longitudinal edges of the keyboard and positioned between the platen and the keyboard, a rotatable indicating cylinder arranged in the casing parallel to the window and having spiral indicating means arranged about its periphery and visible through said window, a relatively stationary set of indicating means arranged adjacent to said window,

, one of said indicating means corresponding in' appearance with the type characters of the type wheel member and cooperating with the other of said indicating means to indicate the type character selected to be printed, manually operated means for simultaneously rotating the type wheel member and said cylinder, and means for limiting the turning movement of the cylinder.

15. In a typewriter of the character having a movable type-carrying element, a platen element, and a dummy keyboard operatively connected with one of said elements for moving one element toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a housing member into which the keyboard can descend, an elongated window in the housing member between the platen member and keyboard, a rotatable cylindrical member arranged in the housing member in position to be seen through the window, one of said members being provided with indicating means corresponding in appearance with thetype characters on the typewith one 01 said elementsfor moving one element toward the other upon depression of the keyboard, the improvement which comprises a housing member into which the keyboard can descend,

an elongated window in the housing member between the platen member and keyboard, a rotatable cylindrical member arranged in the housing member in position to be seen through the window, one of said members being provided with indicating means correspondingin appearance with the type characters on the type-carrying 8 element, and the other member having indicating means arranged to cooperate with the firstcharacter selected to be printed, one of said indicating means including spiral means positioned about the periphery of the, cylindrical member,-a handle arranged at one side of the housing member, and means operatively connecting the handle to the cylinder member and typecarrying element for simultaneously shifting the cylinder member and type-carrying element.

17. In a typewriter of the character having a mentioned indicating means to indicate the type movable type-carrying element, a platen element,

and a dummy keyboard means operatively connected with one of said elements for moving one element toward the other upon depression of the keyboard means, the improvement which comprises a housing member having a window, a rotatable cylindrical member arranged in the housing member, one of said members being provided with indicating means corresponding in appearance with the type characters on the typecarrying element, and the other'member having indicating means arranged to cooperate with the first-mentioned indicating, means to indicate the type character selected to be printed, one of said indicating means including spiral means positioned about the periphery of the cylindrical member and visible through said window, and manually operable means for simultaneously turning said cylindrical member to indicate a selected character and for shifting the type-carrying element to bring the selected type Character into printing DQSition.

JOSEPH LEE SWEENEY. 

